Jesse's Rib Shack

The Write-Up

The full story

Jesse's Rib Shack is an old-school smokehouse on West Pine Street where you can see the smoke rolling off the back of the building before you reach the door. Ribs and rib tips ride on the homemade Magic Sauce, the sauce guests joke about wanting to drink, with BBQ chicken, seafood rice and creamy mac and cheese rounding out the plates. The cooking reminds guests of a home barbecue: generous, laid-back and full of Southern hospitality.

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A fort, a courthouse plat and a citrus boom built it. A name nobody can prove still runs it.

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Similar Feel

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Matched by vibe, not by neighborhood: the places across Greater Orlando closest in spirit to Jesse's Rib Shack.

4 Rivers Smokehouse

BBQ · Orlando · $$

The UCF outpost on University Boulevard feeds Knights fans and east Orlando families the full smokehouse lineup.

4 Rivers Smokehouse, 11764 University Blvd, Orlando, FL 32817

Beef Bae

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Formerly Charcoal Zyka, this South Orlando spot runs American barbecue through a Zabiha halal kitchen, and regulars say it works.

10249 S John Young Pkwy Ste 109, Orlando, FL 32837

Uncle Tony's Backyard BBQ Orlando

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Hole-in-the-wall on South Orange Avenue with a small-town feel that makes you forget you are in a big city.

Uncle Tony's Backyard BBQ Orlando, 6807 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32809-6025, United States

Smokey Jay's BBQ

BBQ · Orlando · $$

Mom-and-pop smokehouse on East Colonial where guests say you can taste the family-run care in every plate.

Smokey Jay's BBQ, 9318 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32817-4100

Mohawk Smokehouse

BBQ · Longwood · $$

Small-batch Longwood barbecue from Tyler Evans and his wife Sarah, built on Texas-style brisket with Southern roots.

480 S Ronald Reagan Blvd, Longwood, FL 32750

Smoke & Donuts BBQ

BBQ · Milk District · $$

Low and slow barbecue pairs with made-to-order cake donuts in this casual, family-run Milk District room.

601 N Primrose Dr, Orlando, FL 32803

Keep Going

More in Downtown Orlando

Other places in Downtown Orlando, Local Picks first, then the closest to Jesse's Rib Shack.

Fixtion Restaurant & Bar Local Pick

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On Orange Avenue, comfort food and huge comfy booths early, club energy after dark, shape-shifting through the day.

15 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801

Wall Street Plaza Local Pick

Nightlife & music · Entertainment District · $$

One downtown block holds the whole crawl: eight bars and patios that, on a big night, turn into a single street party.

25 Wall St, Orlando, FL 32801

Elixir Kitchen and Bar Local Pick

Bars & lounges · Bar · $$

A rustic-hip gastropub in one of downtown's original buildings, and very much the neighborhood's spot.

9 W Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801

Sunshine Soulfood Cafe

Restaurants · Soul Food · $$

Soul food with a Caribbean lean on West Colonial, cooked like home: oxtails off the bone, fried chicken, mac and cheese, cornbread.

Sunshine Soulfood Cafe, 2528 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32804-8009, United States

Broken Strings Taproom

Breweries · Brewery · $$

Music-first taproom on West Church Street, walls covered in murals of legends and a sister brewery sharing the roof.

Broken Strings Brewery, 1012 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32805-2216

Fettuccine Pasta-Making Class

Attractions · Cooking Class · $$

In a hands-on downtown class, Chef Mark walks you through fresh fettuccine from scratch: mixing, rolling thin, slicing ribbons and cooking them off.

Goblin Studios, 805 W Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32805